Commission Decision (EU) 2016/1349
of 5 August 2016
establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the EU Ecolabel for footwear
(notified under document C(2016) 5028)
(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 66/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the EU Ecolabel, and in particular Articles 6(7) and 8(2) thereof,
OJ L 27, 30.1.2010, p. 1.
After consulting the European Union Eco-labelling Board,
Whereas:
(1) Under Regulation (EC) No 66/2010, the EU Ecolabel may be awarded to products which have a reduced environmental impact during their entire life cycle.
(2) Regulation (EC) No 66/2010 provides that specific EU Ecolabel criteria are to be established according to product groups.
(3) Commission Decision 2009/563/EC established the ecological criteria and the related assessment and verification requirements for footwear. In order to better reflect the state of the art of the market for this product group and take into account the innovation that has taken place during the intervening period, it is appropriate to establish a revised set of ecological criteria.
Commission Decision 2009/563/EC of 9 July 2009 on establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label for footwear (OJ L 196, 28.7.2009, p. 27).
(4) The revised ecological criteria aim, in particular, at promoting products that have a lower environmental impact mainly in terms of depletion of natural resources, emissions to water, air and soil from manufacturing processes and which contribute to the environmental dimension of sustainable development along their life cycle, are durable, and restrict the presence of hazardous substances.
(5) The revised criteria also promote the social dimension of sustainable development by introducing requirements regarding labour conditions at the final assembly site, with reference to the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy, the UN Global Compact, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for Multi-National Enterprises.
(6) The revised ecological criteria, along with the related assessment and verification requirements, should be valid for six years from the date of adoption of this Decision, taking into account the innovation cycle for this product group.
(7) Decision 2009/563/EC should therefore be replaced.
(8) It is appropriate to allow a transitional period for producers whose products have been awarded the EU Ecolabel for footwear on the basis of the ecological criteria set out in Decision 2009/563/EC, to ensure that they have sufficient time to adapt their products to comply with the revised ecological criteria and requirements. Producers should also be allowed to submit applications based on the ecological criteria set out in Decision 2009/563/EC or on the revised ecological criteria set out in this Decision for a sufficient period of time.
(9) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established by Article 16 of Regulation (EC) No 66/2010,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: